B.C. researchers say seals used sonar equipment as 'dinner bell'

University of Victoria researchers said their study provides a rare glimpse into the species' underwater behaviour, as the animals learned to associate sonar noise from the research instruments, 645 metres deep, with the presence of food.

UVic researchers found the animals learned to associate sonar noise with food during unrelated study

Nono Shen · The Canadian Press · Posted: Sep 07, 2024 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: September 7

A seal chases a fish, and research equipment is in the background — A northern elephant seal attempts to catch a sablefish, captured by Ocean Networks Canada’s high-definition camera at the Barkley Canyon Neptune observatory site off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. (Ocean Networks Canada)

Scientists said new research shows how northern elephant seals used sonar from a deep sea research facility off the British Columbia coast like a "dinner bell" as they hunted for prey.

Lead author Heloise Frouin-Mouy said in a University of Victoria news release that the phenomenon is known as the "dinner bell effect," and the seals appeared to have used the sonar to find an area with prey, particularly their favoured sablefish.

"I was amazed by the videos," said Frouin-Mouy. "Seeing them chasing the fish is amazing."

A seal swims toward a fish, and there is research equipment in the background. — The northern elephant seals were observed for several months returning to the Ocean Networks Canada’s Neptune Barkley Canyon observatory site to hunt for fish. Here, one of the mammals prepares to grab a snailfish at a depth of 645 metres. (Ocean Networks Canada)

The research observatory operated by Ocean Networks Canada in the Barkley Canyon was conducting unrelated research on the effects of light and bait on fish and invertebrate behaviour.

But when video of the site was reviewed, the surprised researchers saw at least eight elephant seals repeatedly visiting the site to hunt, suggesting they used the sonar to locate the area.

Frouin-Mouy said when scientists turned to her for help after finding some "unusual encounters" with the seals, she was excited about the discovery.

Video
Rare sight of a northern elephant seal birth caught on video

Male adolescent seals were also captured on video "power napping" on the sea floor, "another new and never-before-seen behaviour," the university statement said.

Frouin-Mouy said the seals were not disturbed by the sonar unit when its light turned on, and one of the animals even napped nearby for more than eight minutes.

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Eight male elephant seals were identified between June 2022 and May 2023, and individuals were identified based on body marks or scars as well as their "eyeliner cues," the study said.

Frouin-Mouy said she named the eight seals after her favourite group, The Beach Boys, and her favourite one is called Mike, who frequents the research site hunting for food.

The study was conducted in 2022 and 2023 and published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE on Wednesday.